Workforce Development

Takoma Park Mayor, MC President Urge Participation in Community Conversations - First Event Is Tonight

Category: Features

Published: Mar 21 2017 12:00AM

Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart and Montgomery College President DeRionne Pollard today urged residents of Silver Spring and Takoma Park, members of the College community, and other interested parties to participate in the upcoming series of three community conversations about the Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus. The first meeting will be on Tuesday, March 21 in the Takoma Park Community Center, located at 7500 Maple Avenue. A reception with refreshments begins at 7 p.m. with the program scheduled for 7:30 - 9 p.m.

"We encourage everyone who cares about the campus, including access to quality facilities and instruction, and what the campus will look like in the coming years, to attend these gatherings," the two leaders said. "The College has proposed significant construction to replace or modernize existing buildings on the East Campus within Takoma Park, and these meetings will give participants an opportunity to learn more about the proposals, provide feedback and suggest changes."

"Initiating this public dialogue will help ensure that the Takoma Park community along with the array of campus stakeholders have a meaningful opportunity to consult with the College on its building and renovation plans," Stewart and Pollard continued, "with the goal of both meeting MC's academic needs and preserving the residential character of the neighborhood."

As part of its Facilities Master Plan, MC has proposed the replacement or renovation of most of the older campus buildings on the East Campus within Takoma Park. The next project is the replacement of out-of-date facilities with the construction of a new math-science building on Fenton Street.

In addition to March 21, community conversations are scheduled for May 9 and June 6. All the meetings will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Takoma Park Community Center, and will be led by a facilitator. Each event date is a separate important part of the community dialogue, and the public is invited to participate in all three.